Camden designates Community Building as emergency shelter
Susan Scholl Editor

The Town of Camden and the Tippecanoe Chapter of theAmerican Red Cross reached an agreement at the Oct. 16 council meeting to designate theCommunity Building as a disaster relief center.

There is no other Red Cross emergency shelter in Carroll County.

Town officials have beenworkingwithMelissaAxley, RedCross Emergency Services director, Tippecanoe County Chapter. "We're here to help in anywaywe can," she said. "And all disaster relief is offered free of charge."

Depending on the type of disaster and available resources, the Red Cross may operate the community building as an emergency shelter or provide the necessary training for local leaders to properly train staff and operate the shelter.

The townwill also install a natural gas powered generator to provide power to the community building in the event of an emergency. Estimated cost of the generator and installation is $30,000.

Town resident Everett Snoeberger questioned whether the CommunityBuildingwas the best choice for an emergency shelter. He said it was the highest risk building in the community due to being susceptible to roof collapse in the event of snow and ice.

"It may not be a perfect solution, but it's the only one we have," saidCouncil president Pete Wagoner.

Sidewalks

Two local contractors submitted bids for sidewalk construction. The council approved letting participating homeowners reviewand decidewhich contractor to use and which pay backmethodwillwork for them. Participants will be required toworkwith clerk-treasurer Pat Casserly.

A question was asked whether or not the Sidewalk Construction and Financing Policy applied to areas of townwhere therewere no sidewalks.Wagoner said that sidewalk installation has always been the homeowner's responsibility and the sidewalk grants are for repairing existing sidewalks.

Other business

The council approved an updated contract for $4,500 with the Camden-Jackson Township Volunteer FireDepartment to provide fire protection for the town.

Town attorneyAnneBriggs has been working with the Council to update the town's nuisance ordinance. "There are a couple of areas we're still working on, such as dogs," said Wagoner. The noise portion has been overhauled and there is reference to junk vehicles. "We'll still beworking on this next year," he added before the council voted to adopt the partially updated ordinance.

Letters have been sent out regarding troubled properties and Casserly said that there is a "good possibility that themarshalwill believe further action is warranted."

Wagoner announced that there have been reports of door-to-door salesmen in town. He reminded residents that the town has an ordinance requiring these salesmen to have a permit issued from the town. He urged residents to ask themif they have such a permit.

The 2007 class of Leadership Carroll County started a scholarship fund in memory of Ralph Rohrabaugh, who died last December. Rohrabaugh had indicated his intent to participate in that class.Arecipient of the scholarship to attend the 2008 class that begins in January will be chosen at the November councilmeeting.Anyone interested should contact the town office.

Interest has been expressed in purchasing the 175th anniversary banners thatwill be coming down off of town poles soon to be replaced with holiday banners. The council set the price at $20 each for the 12 banners.

The German Baptist community has toldWagoner that itwants to be a good neighbor. They have voluntarily offered to clean-up the horse droppings from their animals on town streets.

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Director Sana Booker said she was ending her day on a good note with her visit to Camden. A guest at the meeting, Booker emphasized Camden's importance to the county and invited the council and residents to stop by the REMC building in Delphiwhere she has her office or call her with concerns or to chat.

The next council meeting will be Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. in the community building.